The heart of John Guare’s “Six Degrees of Separation” is summed up by Ouisa Kittredge in the play’s closing moments: “ ... everybody on this planet is separated by only six other people. Six degrees of separation ... every person is a new door, opening up into other worlds.”

“Six Degrees” is a witty, biting, commentary on what drives people: the desire for money, fame, social standing, comfort, and, for the lucky, a desire for meaningful human connection. It is based on an actual incident — a young African-American man gained access to the homes of upper-class New Yorkers by pretending to be the son of actor Sidney Poitier.

The current Flagler College Department of Theatre Arts production completes its two-weekend run in the college’s extensively refurbished Lewis Auditorium.

Masterfully directed by Britt Corey — who also designed the set and took a role — it is svelte, beautifully staged and acted. Although the cast is large, 17 in all, three main characters carry the play’s weight and provide the thrust: sophisticated, glamorous Caulene Hudson as Ouisa Kittredge (Stockard Channing on the stage and in the movie), bespectacled, no-nonsense Micah Laird as her wealthy art dealer husband, Flan Kittridge (Donald Sutherland in the movie); and determined, convincing Nick Khan as Paul, the “Pretender,” the role that launched Will Smith’s rise to stardom in the 1990s. All three deliver confidently and with passion.

Particularly effective is the use of lighting, Ariana Valazquez handling the intricacies without a hitch, to rivet the audience’s attention on various portion’s of the huge stage, which otherwise remains in total darkness. A black scrim at the rear, which extends the stage’s full height and breadth, is used to great effect, enabling characters to “appear” magically when illuminated, and vanish just as suddenly when the light is extinguished.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26-27, and 2 p.m. Oct. 28. Tickets are $15 and are available from noon to 5 p.m. at the auditorium box office or one hour prior to curtain. Call 826-8600.